Step out for beautiful bluebell walk

Step out for a beautiful bluebell woodland walk this bank holiday weekend and help raise funds to fight meningitis

Warwickshire’s most spectacular display near Yew Tree Farm, Wootton Wawen, will once again be opening up to visitors between 10am and 4pm on Sunday 1 and Monday 2 May, with proceeds going to us and another charity.

Organised by the Haimes family, the two mile walk, now in its 25th year, takes in the largest area of private bluebell woods in the county and attracts hundreds of visitors each year.

Angela Cloke, our Community Ambassador in Warwickshire, who approached the family to ask if we could be the beneficiaries from this year’s walk, said: “We’re really grateful to the Haimes family for choosing us.

“Support like this makes a real difference to our work with those who are at risk from meningitis and those whose lives have already been changed forever because of it.”

Have to wait and see

Angela’s son Sam, now 15, contracted meningococcal septicaemia aged 18 months. After being seen by two doctors he was taken to hospital.

“They did all kinds of tests on him, put in lines and gave him a huge dose of antibiotics” Angela said. “Then they said he can’t have another dose for 24 hours and there is nothing more that we can do – we just have to wait and see."

“Although they didn’t say it I knew they were waiting to see if he would live or die. I didn’t sleep, I just watched his every breath. I just concentrated on Sam, making sure he was still alive. Looking back, I don’t think there was one moment when I thought I would lose him – I didn’t dare contemplate that.”

Fortunately Sam made a full recovery from his illness.

Since then Angela has supported our work through fundraising and raising awareness.

So, if you have nothing planned why not come along? There’s ample parking and walkers on the day can also visit the farmyard shops at Yew Tree Farm and enjoy a hog roast and other refreshments afterwards. Admission is £5 for adults, children are free and dogs welcome on a lead.